Main Navigation

You are here:

Covers following an eating plan for inflammatory bowel disease. Helps you learn more about how to eat so you can manage your symptoms but still get the nutrition you need. Looks at common problem foods.

Bowel Disease: Changing Your Diet

Introduction

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
are types of
inflammatory bowel disease. They cause inflammation
and sores (ulcers) in the
digestive tract. This can lead to symptoms such as
diarrhea, belly pain, loss of appetite, fever, bloody stools, and weight loss.
Often symptoms are worse after eating.

If you have an
inflammatory bowel disease, it may be hard to get important nutrients such as
vitamins, minerals, and protein. Your intestines may not be able to take all
the nutrients from the food you eat. You may lose nutrients through diarrhea.
This can lead to problems such as anemia or low levels of vitamins, such as
vitamin B12 and
folic acid.

To control their symptoms,
some people eat only bland foods, like pasta, and they avoid fruits and
vegetables. But you need to eat a variety of foods to get the nutrients you
need for good health. This topic can help you learn more about how to eat
so you can manage your symptoms but still get the nutrition you need.

Inflammatory bowel disease can make it hard to
get the nutrients you need.

It is important to eat a healthy,
varied diet to help keep your weight up and stay strong.

Some
foods can make symptoms worse. Not eating these foods may help reduce your
symptoms.

No one diet is right for everyone with an inflammatory
bowel disease. Keep a food diary to find out which foods cause problems for
you. Then you can avoid those foods and choose others that supply the same
nutrients.

Because you may not be absorbing all the nutrients from
the food you eat, you will need to eat a high-calorie, high-protein diet. This
may be easier to do if you eat regular meals plus 2 or 3 snacks each day.

You may need to take vitamin and mineral supplements to help get the nutrients you need.

How to eat when you have inflammatory bowel disease

No one diet is right for everyone with an inflammatory bowel disease.
Foods that bother one person may not bother another. Your diet has to be
tailored for you. But the following basic ideas can help you feel better and
get the nutrition you need.

Find your problem foods

High-fiber foods,
such as raw fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. Often people have the most
problems with gas-producing foods. These include beans, cabbage, broccoli, and
onions, and foods with hulls, such as seeds, nuts, and corn.

Find out your problem foods by keeping a food diary.
As soon as you know what foods make your symptoms worse, your doctor or
dietitian can help you plan a diet that avoids problem foods but gives you
plenty of nutrients and enough calories to keep you at a healthy weight.

To make a food diary, get a small notebook and keep it with you. Make
notes after each meal or snack.

On the left side of the page, write down what
you ate, about how much of each food you had, and what time you ate. Be
honest—write down everything.

On the right side of the page, note
any symptoms you had and what time they occurred.

If you notice certain foods make your symptoms worse, talk
to your doctor about these foods at your next visit.

Make smart food choices

During a flare-up, avoid
or reduce foods that make symptoms worse. But instead of cutting out a whole
group of high-nutrient foods, try replacing them with healthy choices.

Choose dairy products that are low in
lactose, such as yogurt or hard cheeses like cheddar.
Or try drinking lactose-reduced milk.

If you are having fat in
your stools, choose low-fat foods instead of high-fat ones. For instance, some
cuts of red meat have a lot of fat. A low-fat choice would be lean beef (such
as sirloin, top and bottom round, chuck or diet lean hamburger), poultry, or
fish, such as cod. Instead of frying foods, try baking or broiling
them.

Cook fruits and vegetables without hulls, skins, or seeds.
Try different ways of preparing them, such as steaming, stewing, or baking.
Peel and seed fresh fruits and vegetables if these bother you, or choose canned
varieties.

Get the calories and nutrients you need

Your body may not be able to absorb all the nutrients
it needs from the food you eat. To stay as healthy as you can:

Eat a varied, nutritious diet that is high in
calories and protein.

Try eating 3 meals plus 2 or 3 snacks a day.
It may be easier to get more calories if you spread your food intake throughout
the day.

Take vitamin and mineral supplements if your doctor
recommends them.

Try adding high-calorie liquid supplements, such
as Ensure Plus or Boost Plus, if you have trouble keeping your weight up.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.
How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.